The most well-known shade of purple eyes is violet. Two other shades are lilac and indigo. It is a rare and beautiful eye color, but is relatively common in the Targaryen family, who are descended from the high lords of the ancient Valyrian Freehold. In Westeros, few but the "blood of the dragon" have purple eyes.

The blood of old Valyria is often manifested by eyes in shades of purple, and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. This coloring was typical among Valyrians, and is often held up as proof that Valyrians are not entirely of the same blood as other men.[1]

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Westeros

House Targaryen

Striking lilac or indigo or violet eyes are typical Targaryen features, and a famous proclamation of their Valyrian heritage. Their practice of incest was kept in part to preserve their rare coloring.

The famed Targaryen eye color can be revealing when a member of the family is trying to be incognito. Aegon V Targaryen, while serving as a squire to Duncan the Tall under the name "Egg", shaved his head so that his silver-gold hair would not be recognized. But his deep purple eyes could not be disguised, though in dim light they looked black.[2]Daemon II Blackfyre, incognito as the hedge knight "John the Fiddler", wore blue clothing to help make his purple eyes look blue.[3]

Note that not all Targaryens have purple eyes: Queen Alysanne Targaryen's eyes were clear blue,[6] and Prince Valarr Targaryen's eyes were also blue.[7] Children of Targaryen/non-Targaryen marriages may also have eyes of a non-Valyrian color; for example, the brown-eyed Prince Baelor, whose mother was a Martell.[7]

House Velaryon

House Velaryon of Driftmark is an ancient and proud house, with the blood of old Valyria in its veins.[11][12] Velaryons, like the Targaryens, often have the Valyrian features of silver hair and purple eyes.[12]

House Dayne

The trait for violet eyes runs in House Dayne, even though it is an unusual eye colour for non-Valyrians in Westeros. Ashara Dayne in particular was famous for her haunting violet eyes.[13][14] Note that GRRM has stated that the Dayne purple eye color is not related to Targaryen ancestry.[15]

Egg had big eyes, and somehow his shaven head made them look even larger. In the dimness of the lamplit cellar they looked black, but in better light their true colour could be seen: deep and dark and purple. Valyrian eyes.